New Graphical User Interface Code-Generation Utility Added to LabWindows
Version 2.3 

User Interface Enhancements and Larger Data Acquisition Arrays Also Added
to LabWindows Version 2.3

March 29, 1993 - Austin, TX - National Instruments today announced the new
Version 2.3 of its LabWindows automatic code-generating software for DOS
instrumentation applications. The primary enhancement to LabWindows
Version 2.3 is the new user interface CodeBuilder, an interactive
prototyping and program-generation utility to help LabWindows users
automatically design and build programs with graphical user interfaces
(GUIs). LabWindows 2.3 also includes enhancements to the User Interface
Library, new graph and cursor controls, and new hardware control and
memory management features in the Data Acquisition Library. The new
version will control only IEEE 488.2-compatible boards to take advantage
of the latest standard for instrument control specifications.

CodeBuilder Jumps Event-Driven Programming Hurdle to Simplify GUI
Development and Manipulation 

The new user interface CodeBuilder simplifies somewhat complicated features
of earlier versions of LabWindows - having to learn event-driven
programming techniques to manipulate the graphic displays. In previous
versions, users could quickly define complex GUIs using graphs, strip
charts, pushbuttons, and controls on multiple panels to be controlled from
a single program. However, these graph displays had to be manipulated
using event-driven programming - a new concept for engineers and
scientists who are not professional programmers. Before LabWindows users
could develop code to acquire, analyze, or present data, they had to first
display the appropriate graphic panels and create the programming
structure to respond to any events (for example, mouse clicks or keyboard
entries) on these displays from their program.

The new user interface CodeBuilder automates the process of manipulating
graphic panels and responding to events from these panels, overcoming many
problems novice users had in getting started with event-driven programming
techniques. CodeBuilder generates structured and easy-to- understand
source code, so that novice programmers can quickly become proficient in
GUI control and event-driven programming methodologies. Experienced
LabWindows users also benefit from using CodeBuilder - they can save hours
of development time and effort by automatically generating the initial
framework of new applications.

How CodeBuilder Works 

CodeBuilder acts as a simple translator from English to C or BASIC. Users
can prototype their programs quickly and easily, and convert the prototype
automatically into a C or BASlC program. After users create a GUI
consisting of buttons, graphs, strip charts, indicators, and menu bars,
they use CodeBuilder to interactively design and generate the program for
controlling that GUI. CodeBuilder makes it easy for users to control
complex user interfaces, featuring many different graphics panels, pop-up
screens, and menu bars, all from a single program. Users simply map out
the structure of their program in CodeBuilder by selecting from options to
display different graphics panels and respond to mouse and keyboard
events.

LabWindows users can simulate the operation of their program designs before
they write a single line of code, using a test option available in
CodeBuilder. Once satisfied with the operation of the outline, users
convert it into standard C or BASIC source code automatically. The
resulting program is a structured, commented C or BASIC language program
controlling the user interface displays and event-handling tasks. The user
simply inserts lines of code into the shell for acquiring data from
instruments, analyzing the data, and directing the results to different
controls on the GUI to complete the program.

User Interface Library Enhancements 

Version 2.3 adds improved functionality to graph controls and cursors in
the User Interface Library (UIL). Users can now control individual traces
within a multitrace graph, and display or delete a single data trace on a
graph without affecting any existing data on the graph. Graph cursor
control is improved in LabWindows 2.3 with functions for returning indexed
data values, changing active traces, and hiding cursors programmatically.
The UIL and editor also now have 256 color performance. In addition to
displaying 256 color PCX images, users can now set their own color palette
RGB values using the new functions.

Data Acquisition Library Enhancements 

Customers using the AT-DSP2200 will be able to acquire several channels of
data with a multifunction data acquisition board and transfer the data
directly into DSP board memory through a high-speed serial Real Time
System Integration (RTSI) bus connection to the AT-DSP2200. In addition,
using new memory management functions added in the data acquisition
library, users can access extended memory for allocating arrays for data
acquisition operations, breaking the former 64K array size limitation in
LabWindows for data acquisition. In addition, LabWindows Version 2.3 now
controls a new group of digital I/O signal conditioning modules in the
company's SCXI product line.

Moving to IEEE 488.2 

To provide better maintenance and support for the company's GPIB instrument
users, LabWindows 2.3 will control only IEEE 488.2-compatible controller
boards. IEEE 488.2 is the latest GPIB standard that includes new commands
for system configuration and querying in addition to handling all IEEE
488.1 style calls. Through the company's IEEE 488.2 upgrade program, any
current LabWindows user upgrading to Version 2.3 can also upgrade their
GPIB controller board to a National Instruments IEEE 488.2-compatible
board at no extra charge. First-time LabWindows 2.3 buyers can upgrade
their GPIB controller hardware for a nominal charge.

Pricing, Availability, and More Information 

LabWindows 2.3 will be available in April from National Instruments for
$1,495 for the full development package. Existing LabWindows customers may
purchase the LabWindows 2.3 upgrade package for $295.

For more information about LabWindows, please contact National Instruments,
6504 Bridge Point Parkway, Austin, TX 78730-5039, (512) 794-0100. Call
toll-free in the U.S. or Canada at (800) 433-3488. Fax: (512) 794-8411.

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